Martin Edwards on Manchester United: My role in David Beckham meeting Victoria, poaching Ryan Giggs from Man City and when Paul Ince met 007

MARTIN EDWARDS has revealed the inside story on his 22 years as Manchester United chairman - in his new autobiography, Red Glory.

Here, he explains his role in David Beckham, meeting Spice girl Victoria for the first time, Sean Connery upstaging the Guv'nor Paul Ince, and  how the Neville brothers were tipped for fame.. at cricket.

GARY AND PHIL NEVILLE

GARY was youth-team captain and leader on the field but some thought Phil was a better player.

Both were also very good cricketers and Phil captained England at Under-15 level. Ray Illingworth, the former captain and manager, told me he was a certainty to play for England.

THE BECKHAMS

I ACTUALLY played a part in the two of them becoming a couple.  Simon Fuller, the manager of the Spice Girls, wanted to come to a game.

He brought  Victoria  and Mel C with him, so I escorted them  to the players’ lounge and that’s where Victoria met David for  the very first time.

BOND AND THE GUV’NOR

PAUL INCE was the self-styled Guv’nor, which I don’t think Alex liked at all.

At a pre-season game at Rangers, Sean Connery was there. All the lads wanted to meet him so I took him into the dressing room. He had heard Ince called himself the Guv’nor, so when I introduced them, Sean said to him: “I’d like to meet the Guv’nor . . . is your wife here today?”

POACHING RYAN GIGGS

ALEX worked tirelessly to persuade Ryan’s parents, especially his mother,  the best home for him was Old Trafford rather than Maine Road.

He was our best prospect since George Best. Everyone talked about Best — and   it was the same with Ryan. We  knew he was going to be  special.

MORE FROM MARTIN EDWARDS' AUTOBIOGRAPHY RED GLORY: MANCHESTER UNITED AND ME

• Martin Edwards: Arsene Wenger was my top choice to succeed Alex Ferguson as Manchester United manager
• Martin Edwards on Eric Cantona’s amazing confidence, regrets over Zinedine Zidane and wasting money on Juan Sebastian Veron

BARGAIN DENIS IRWIN

LOOKING back on my time with  Manchester United, I’ve always said  my best two buys were Eric Cantona and Peter Schmeichel.

But if I had to pick a third, Denis Irwin would definitely be the one.

He was a fantastic signing  — a huge part of  the trophies we went on to win throughout the 1990s.